Signal device



. 6, 1938. w R, CURTISS` SIGNAL DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 30, 1956 ff. BY

ZVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

Reissued Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL DEVICE William R. Curtiss, Meriden, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Air Devices Corporation, a corporation of Delaware 4 Claims.

This invention relates to signalling means and more particularly to electrically illuminated signalling apparatus.

This application is a division of applicants copending application Serial No. 670,697, filed May 12, 1933.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel signalling unit wherein the lighttransmitting portions may be readily, easily and completely cleaned and which is so constructed that the accumulation of dirt on the light-transmitting surfaces is minimized.

Still another object is to provide a signal lamp having novel light-transmitting means whereby the entry of dirt, water and other foreign matter is substantially eliminated without decreasing light transmission as much as the same has been decreased in similar devices heretofore provided.

A further object is to provide a novel signal lamp which is so constructed as to be readily and inexpensively manufactured in large quantities and which is of light weight for a given size, yet sturdy and durable, and adapted for use both indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather.

A still further object is to provide a novel signalling device which is so constructed as to render the outline of the signal more clear and distinct at much greater distances than those heretofore provided.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being primarily had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of novel signal lamp which may be employed in carrying out the present invention, the view being taken on line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lamp shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken on a line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, with a portion broken away, of one form of a novel translucent disc comprehended by the present invention.

One vembodiment of the novel signalling lamp comprehended by the present invention .is illustrated, by Way of example (Figs. 1 to 4) as com- (Cll. 177-329) prising a housing constituted by a shell I0 having a substantially-parabolic section and a iianged front cover II forming a bezel for receiving a transparent or translucent disc I2. Preferably shell I0 and cover Il are stamped from lightweight materials thereby reducing the cost and weight While facilitating the rate of production.

In lighting or signalling units of the above type wherein light Weight is desirable much difficulty has been experienced in providing a suitable mounting for the same, since the body portion or shell could not be made strong enough, consistent with desired Weight, to withstand the vibrations to which it is subjected. To overcome this diiiiculty there is provided a narrow steel strip I4 stamped to conform to the contour of shell Ill in an axial direction and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner wall thereof. Strip I4 and shell Ill are provided with' cooperating indentations forming a. horizontal portion I5 by means of which said shell is secured to a suitable mounting-post I6.

As shown, post I6 is tubular and is externally threaded from end to end. The upper end of the same projects through an opening in portion I5, the latter being clamped between a pair of nuts I1 and I8 thereby securely fastening shell I0 to the mounting-post. Any suitable iixture such as a clamping-member I9, washer 29, and nut ZI may be provided for securing post I6 to the frame member, such as a fender of a vehicle.

In addition to serving as a reinforcement for shell Ill, strip III has its inner end bent upwardly at right angles to theV axis of said shell and has a bulb socket 22 concentric with said axis secured thereto by any suitable means such as soldering. Within the socket there is provided a springpressed contact 23 carried and centered therein by an insulating washer 24, said contact being directly connected to an electrical lead 25which is brought into shell I0 through tubular post I5.

Preferably, socket 22 is so positioned that the center ofillumination of a bulb 2E, held in said socket by means of a bayonet joint, will coincide with the foci of a substantially parabolic reflector 2l. The latter, as shown, is mounted within shell I0 and is maintained in a fixed position therein by means of cover I I which holds a narrow flange of said reflector in engagement with the outer edge of the face of said shell. By positioning the Source of light at the foci of reflector 2l, the rays will proceed from the latter in parallel lines.

In order to emit therlight of bulb 25 in the form of a direction-indicating signal, cover II is stamped with openings forming the desired signal or figure. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a novel form of signal is provided whereby the range of visibility of the same is materially increased. Heretofore signals of the character illustrated, especially those in smaller and desirable sizes, have not proved to be entirely successful in that a clear outline of the signal was not visible except at short distances. The latter diiculty has been due to the diffusion of the light rays which causes the outline of the Signal to be obliterated and appear as a solid light.

The above difliculty is overcome by the present invention wherein the signal outline in cover I is constituted by a plurality of openings 2B forming broken lines to make up the desired signal, such as the arrow shown. Preferably the lengths of the openings forming a given line of the signal are shortened at points Where there is a concentration of light due to the proximity `of another line. By so forming the signal in the face of the signal lamp, the diffusion of the light rays tends to accentuate the signal rather than to blur the same since the commingling of the rays is greatly reduced for longer distances and completely eliminated for short distances. The glare produced at a distance by a signal make up of solid lines is thus greatly reduced when such lines are broken such as by means of baffles 25. It is also desirable that the lines making up the signal be separated as much as possible consistent with the formation of the outline desired. The commingling of the light rays is further prevented by the emanation of the rays in parallel lines through openings 28 as pointed out above. The width of openings 28 should be kept as small as possible for night use, but at the same time should be large enough to provide sufcient light intensity to counteract normal daytime illumination. It has been found that a suitable width for the openings 28 in a 4 inch diameter light, should be approximately if of an inch.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide signals or signs having a perforated plate of opaque material positioned in front of a source of light and having the perfor-ations or openings so arranged as to form the outline of a desired signal. For the purpose of rendering such a signal more visible and to prevent the entrance of dirt, moisture and other foreign matter into the signal housing, it has also been heretofore proposed to fill said openings` by punching or bulging portions of a sheet of paper, cloth or other suitable material that will stretch into or through the same, but signals of this character are extremely frangible and susceptible to damage, the same are not suitable for outside use, and the light-transmitting surfaces of the paper or cloth cannot be satisfactorily cleaned without .damaging the same. Others have employed glass or similar translucent material to cover the openings but the material at the point where the same extends into the openings of the opaque plate has been very thick, thereby cutting down the light emission and requiring the provision of a stronger light source for a given amount of light emission and the mounting of said material has been complicated, expensive and unsatisfactory.

For the purpose of overcoming the foregoing difficulties and for coloring the signal amber red or other suitable colors commonly employed in directional signals, for example, a. novel translucent disc I2 is secured to the inner face -of cover by means of one or more rivets y3|) and, if desired, a metal backing plate 34 may be employed. As shown, disc l2 is constituted by a stamp made from celluloid or other suitable substantially rigid, though yieldable, light-transmitting substance and has raised portions 3| thereon corresponding in size and position to openings 28 in cover The projections 3| thereby seal the housing lll-II against the entrance of dirt and moisture through openings 28. The thickness of projections 3| is preferably such that the outer faces thereof are substantially flush with the outer face of cover to thereby permit easy cleaning of said raised portions and prevent the accumulation of dirt in openings 28 which would reduce the light emission through said openings. Thus, a signal unit which is carefully designed to give proper light emission for the particular purpose for which it is intended is not rendered less eflicient during use by the accumulation of dirt around the edges of openings 28. By stamping disc |2 from a flat plate having uniform thickness, the projections 3| (Fig. 3) have a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the remainder of the disc and accordingly do not materially hinder the passage of light rays through openings 28. If desired, suitable vmolded discsof glass, Celluloid or other suitabley material but having the same shape as disc l2, i. e.,-the raised portions 3| and complementary recesses, may be employed in lieu of' the stampings above described.

When metal plate 34 is not employed, disc |12 is maintained in contact with the inner face of cover by being clamped between the edge of shell Il] and said cover when the latter is secured in assembled position. As shown, cover is positioned and secured by means of a pin- 32 on the shell which projects into an openingin the flange of cover and a suitable clamp constituted by ears 33, secured to shell I0 and cover and retaining member 33. the visibility of the signal is improved by the provision of the visor 35 which may be secured to the flange on cover y There is thus provided a novel signal unit whereby clear and distinct signals may be rendered visible at longer distances than heretofore with a source of light of given intensity and which may be kept clean with little or no trouble. Additionally, the unit i-s so constructed that the accumulation of dirt on the light-transmitting surfaces which would cause a variation in the effective area of said surfaces is substantially eliminated, thereby insuring a constant predetermined light emission and a clear and distinct signal at distances for which the unit is particularly designed. Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, particularly inthe design and arrangement of parts illustrated, may be made therein without departing from lt-he spirit and scope of the invention, as will now-be clearly understood by those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had primarilyto the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signalling device of the character described, a cover member having a plurality Iof light-transmitting openings therein in the form of a figure constituting a signal,.and a substantially-rigid light-transmitting plate having raised portions extending into the openingsV in .said cover member,v said raised portionsV havingthe For daytime use outer surfaces thereof substantially flush with the outer surface of the cover member and the thickness of said raised portions being substantially equal to the thickness of the remainder of the plate.

2. In a signalling device of the character described, a cover member having a light-transmitting opening therein, and a substantiallyrigid light-transmitting plate having a raised portion extending into the opening in said cover member, said raised portion having the outer surface thereof substantially ilush with the outer surface of the cover member and the thickness of said raised portion being substantially equal to the thickness of the remainder of the plate.

3. In a signalling device of the class described, an opaque metallic cover member having one or more light-transmitting openings therein arranged to form the outline of a signal, a plate of substantially-rigid, moldable, waterproof, translucent material having one or more raised portions on the outer surface thereof and a recess complementary to each of the said raised portions in the other surface thereof, and means for securing said plate to said cover member with said raised portions of the former extending into said openings in the latter.

4. In a signalling device of the class described, an opaque housing cover having one or more openings therein in the form of a figure constituting a signal, and a rigid, translucent plate, said plate having projections extending into said openings and having recesses complementary to said projections, the outer surfaces of said projections being substantially flush with the outer surface of the face of said housing cover.

WILLIAM R. CURTISS. 

